Discover the route of the white villages in Andalusia, a journey through the 10 most beautiful white villages of the Andalusian region. Andalusia has truly beautiful villages, and many of them share a common characteristic, being part of the so-called white villages.
White villages are a typical architectural feature of Mediterranean cultures, so they can be found all along the coast of this inland sea. Hundreds of years ago, many of these Mediterranean cultures decided to whitewash the walls of their houses using a combination of lime, water and sand to reduce the impact of the sun and cool the interior of their homes.
Nowadays, white villages are a major tourist attraction, some of them internationally recognized such as Sidi Bou Said, in Tunisia, to Oia, the village on the Greek island of Santorini.
The time has come to meet the Andalusian white villages that have nothing to envy those mentioned before. The Route of the White Villages covers up to 20 towns spread between Málaga and Cádiz.
We travel half of the villages on this route on a journey through the most traditional Andalusia, these are our favorite white villages of Andalusia.
Indice
Maro (Málaga)
Our journey starts in the Malaga village of Maro, located near the tourist town of Nerja. Maro is a white village in its own right, located in a privileged natural environment, in the natural park of Maro-Cerro Cordo. A perfect visit for nature lovers where you can also enjoy nudist beaches like Cantarriján.
Zahara de la Sierra (Cádiz)
One of the most mystical villages in all Spain, Zahara de la Sierra competes in beauty with places like Vejer or Arcos de la Frontera. This beautiful Andalusian white village lies at the foot of an Arab castle that majestically overlooks the valley of the Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park.
Zahara de la Sierra is a village where tranquility meets adventure, a perfect place for hiking, kayaking or horse riding. Are you starting to like the route of the white villages of Andalusia?
Zuheros (Córdoba)
Considered by some as one of the most beautiful villages in Spain, Zuheros is one of those white villages that enchant in the heart of the Sierra Subbética. It’s special to stroll on a summer afternoon through its white streets full of flower pots filled with geraniums and typical Andalusian patios.
Like Zahara de la Sierra, the Cordoba village of Zuheros is crowned by a modest castle which adds to the tourist charms of this beautiful town.
Benaoján (Málaga)
You cannot do the route of the white villages of Malaga without passing through the beautiful Malaga town of Benaoján.
Agua Amarga (Almería)
Traveling to the wonderful Cabo de Gata in the province of Almeria, we find the beautiful white town of Agua Amarga. This Almerian village is located a few kilometers from the famous Playa de los Muertos.
Bornos (Cádiz)
Among the villages of Cadiz the beautiful town of Bornos always stands out, undoubtedly one of the best destinations on the route of the white villages of Cadiz.
Ojén (Málaga)
The province of Málaga is one of the Andalusian regions with the most white villages, some of them as spectacular as Ojén. This beautiful white village is located between the Sierra Blanca and Alpujata, very close to the touristy Marbella.
Pampaneira (Granada)
One of the most charming villages in Granada, and one of the most beautiful on the route of the white villages of Andalusia is Pampaneira. Visitors to this Andalusian village can expect a hippie atmosphere, cool temperatures, good ham, all in the center of the Alpujarra of Granada.
Algatocín (Málaga)
Algatocín is a municipality in the province of Málaga, located west of the beautiful province in the Genal Valley. It is one of the towns that make up the region of the Serranía de Ronda.
Arcos de la Frontera (Cádiz)
Arcos de la Frontera is known not only as one of the most famous white villages in the province of Cádiz, but also as the western entrance to the Route of the White Villages. It is located just 45 minutes drive from Cádiz.
Although the landscape is not as impressive as in the past, Arcos de la Frontera has a privileged location, with its old town located on top of a steep rock.
From the parking lot (which I will tell you more about later), you can reach the Plaza del Cabildo, which is the most important square in the old town of Arcos de la Frontera, by walking for about 10-15 minutes. Unfortunately, parked cars can slightly mar the beauty of the place.
In the square, you will also find a small viewpoint and the Basilica of Santa María de la Asunción, which is the most important church in Arcos. In addition, there is the Castle of Arcos, although it cannot be visited. If you continue walking east from the Plaza del Cabildo, you will reach the viewpoint Mirador de Abades.
Setenil de las Bodegas
In other words, Setenil de las Bodegas is a unique village in this region of Andalusia. Unlike most white villages that are on hills, this village is built into a gorge. It is amazing to see how many houses are built directly into the rocks.
If you want to see the most famous photos of Setenil de las Bodegas, I recommend walking through the streets Cuevas del Sol and Cuevas de la Sombra. On these streets, you will find houses that are partially or completely covered by rocks, creating a surreal view.
I also suggest you take a walk down the romantic Herrería street. In this place, lovers can take a picture at a specific point, recognizable by a sign that says «Bésame en este rincón» in English, which means «kiss me in this corner».
On the other hand, Setenil de las Bodegas is one of the most popular villages in the area, so it can quickly become crowded, as it is not very large. To avoid the crowds, I recommend visiting it on a weekday or arriving as early as possible.
For many considered the most beautiful white village in Spain, Arcos de la Frontera is one of the most touristic and beautiful villages in Andalusia. This village is located in Peña de Arcos declared a natural monument of Andalusia, which makes it even more beautiful to visit. Want to visit Cadiz lands?
As you may have already noticed, the Andalusian route of the white villages is not the only one, there are also the route of the white villages of Málaga and Cadiz, which we will talk about soon on the web.
Route of the white villages in Andalusia 2024 / 2025.
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¡Qué maravilla de pueblos! Me encantaría verlos todos. ¿Cuál recomendarías visitar primero?
¡Vaya, estos pueblos blancos en Andalucía parecen sacados de un cuento de hadas! ¿Alguien ha estado allí? ¿Merece la pena visitarlos?
¡Qué belleza de pueblos blancos en Andalucía! ¿Pero cuál es el mejor para comer tapas?